Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-09-28
NEW RAILROADS.
RNTERPRISING CAPITALISTS TO Dk'Elor
TBR MOUNTAIN STATE.
Railroad Construction in West Vrginia-The Pro-
posed West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee
Railway-Insrvisw With George
StsarnS Of New York.

OCOlRC l. ~
can improvement Company, which Is en-
gagged in the development OF the great APP
palachian Basin, and particularly further
ing the construction of q line of railway
through the States of West Virginia, Ken
lucky and Tennessee, is now insthls Guy.
From his intimate knowledge OF the re-
sources of this territory, and of questions
german to its development, a REGISTER
reporter last evening asked Mr.. Stea7rs
would be be wlllingto say something upon
these matters for the benefit OF the pnoiie.
Reporter-Did you see the report pup
lished some weeks since In the REGlsThk
of the interview with eX-Attorney General
C.. C. Watts, in reference TO State develop
meut by the iDstrumentality OF county
subscriptions?
Mr.. S~tearns-I did, and read 1T with
much interest. His views in this regard
are sound, and to thoughtful men, concln-
siye. / have long been OF his oplnio1,
that the only way that West Virginia
could reap the benefits OF the stupendons
resources, which beniicent Nature has
planted upon her and in her mountains,
was by showing to the world her iaith III
these resources and assuring %pecuniary OBJ
legations as a basis whereupon to induce
outside capital to come in and build ave
nues of communication to reach markets
entirely of her limits, for the natural
wealth in which she Is almost without
limit, and for which markets exist all
over this broad country, north, east, south
and west, to any extent they may be fur
nished. Now, in fact, thus limited, En-
rome and South America would annually
nav millions of dollars could they get that
which the Appalachian Basin has TO sell,
and which lies practically valueless.
Reporter-You have given, Mr.. Stearns,
wears of study TO the OF this
territory, will you give a resume of what
they consist?
Mr.. Stearns-Properly, to answer this
question, opens gu illimitable field that
would require volumes. Let me grope
conclusions. The highest scientific teSti-
mony in the world gives it the highest
position in the world in richness of nat
ural wealth. Professor William b. Rogers,
the first of American Biologists, said
''Other than this, there is no such combi-
nation in the world"
Professor n. S. Shaler, the successor OF
Agassiz in Harvard University, as the re-
suit of many years Of practical study, IL
on record as saying, at is the richest re-
Sion in the world" Professor Aus ed,
the President of the Royal Geological So
ciety of London. Testified before a Com
mittee of the United States Senate, to
this effect: ~ have for twenty eight years
been a | practical geologist, and have visit
ed the great coal and mineral deposits OF
the world. For quantity, quality and
facility or cheapness of mining, that OF
the great Appalaichn basin excel them
all" And might quote authority upon
authority, piling "Ossa upon PeliOn'
with evidence to this effect.
RepOrter-Give us something OF the
results Of your Investigations, Mr.. Stearns,
as to these resources,
Mr.. Stearns-Well, l always quote my
own opinions in these relations with hest
fancy, SO confident In their s%tupendOus
magnitude and | that an telling You in
part what | know, | feel it may
ard will be said: "0h, Stearns is an en-
thusiast. His zeal Outruns biI discretion. y
1t is crcdibly maintained that in this
basin lies embedded every mineral known
to science. | seldom alludG to other than
coal, iron and timber. The Hon. Robert
J. Walker once said to me when a young
man, ''Mr. Stearns the proximity OF iron
and coal within her limits has made Great
Britain the foremost nation of the world"
This remark made n profound impression
upon my life. 1t is true, coal and iron are
the fundamentals of national prosperity,
and the nearer they lie together, the less
the cost OF production. Pennsylvania has
for O hundred years been the seat of the
great iron industry Of the continent. Yet
to the furnaces OF Pennsylvania and the
North, il is proven that every ton of coal
for fuel stands a transportation Of two
hundred miles, and every ton Of ore a
transportation of four hundred miles, and
to make a ton Of pig iron necessitates at
least four tons Of ore and fuel upon
the average. To meet the demands
OF northern furnaces Lake Superior, a
thousand miles away, this year is drawn
upon for 1000, 900 ton Of ore, and the lit
tie vein of Connellsville, but twenty miles
long by three miles wide, to make coke to
run these furnaces employs 10000 men,
burning 1000 ovens, prcftably making
more than $l2, 600, 600 of capital.
West Virginia and Kentucky have veins
of coking coal, making coke certainly equal
of that Of COnnellsyille, covering hundreds
of miles of their territory, and for the lack
of railway communication undevelOped
and practically yalueless. And the same
holds relatively true of iron. Within a
radius of 100 miles of the proposed West
Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee railway,
its line running through coal from its in
ception for several hundred miles, lies the
richest deposits of hematite, red and brown,
limnite, specular and magnetic ore upon
the Continent, exceeding in magnitude
the coal and mineral wealth OF
Great Britain and the German
Empire, while the marble quarries of Ten
nessee and adjacent areas, furnishing not
only the limestone for lux, but building
stone of most exquisite character, excel
those of other known deposits. Let
thoughtful men for a while ponder these
facts. Here within twelve hours travel OF
Charleston, which stands at the head water
navigation OF more than 20, 900 miles il a
natural wealth, all undevelOped-excell-
ing the vast resources Of the two most DOW
eriul nations of Europe.
Reporter-These facts are certainly
amazing, and surely cannot be understood.
But you said you talked coal, iron and
Timber" What is to be said of timber ?
Mr.. Stearns-It can hardly be credited
what is to be said. Within this same area
stands the finest growth Of %deciduous, or
hard wood timber in the temperate zone.
The magnitude and variety of the trees is
wonderful, and nine acres Of every ten is
covered with the primitive forest. Outside
Of these limits, throughout the Mis-
sissippi basin to the Rocky Mountains, nine
acres of every ten are without a tree, and
every acre is or will become a customer for
the forest growth. From the top of Roam
Mountain, the juncture of the States of
Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina, n
party not long since in an afternoons ride
of II miles met over so varieties of hard
wood. Chicago, by railroad communion
tion, opening up the pine forests of Wis
consin and Michigan, for years has stood
the first soft wood market of the world.